It was quite common in the DDR for ex-,military vehicles to end up being used in other public services. Here we have a Trabant which would have started life as a military vehicle, perhaps used by the Border Guards protecting the former DDR territory. Here it is re-liveried as a Feuerwehr car perhaps used for those incidents which didn’t need a fire appliance.

745267 Mercedes-Benz Vito Bus “German Bundeswehr”

Most vehicles of the Bundeswehr are now leased, so they are no longer in “NATO olive”, but are painted in standard consumer colours to make them easier to sell at the end of the lease.

746281 IFA G5 crane truck of NVA

The IFA crane truck was used by the Army and Public services in the Communist DDR. The crane is full movable. Here is the military version next to an earlier model of the civil orange version made in the DDR which is not often seen.

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By Hans-Georg Schmitt

Text and photographs by, and copyright of, the Author.

1:43 Scale

Here I look at a special selection of models made by Herpa from the second half of 2017 and the first quarter of 2018. The models in 1:43 scale are diecast metal and the 1:87 models are moulded in plastic.

071147 Porsche 911 Targa 4 – red – scale 1:43

071123 Porsche 911 Targa 4S – white – scale 1:43

The new 911 is also available in a Targa version. This has four wheel drive as standard. The 4 engine develops 370 hp, but the 4S has 420 hp and can raech 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds from a standing start.

The different exhaust systems on the 4 and 4S are correctly replicated by Herpa on these models.

The first batch were made for Porsche but now the models are available from model dealers for “normal customers”.

Scale 1:87

307628 IFA L60 flat-bed truck with load under a canvas cover

The W50/L60 were the most common medium trucks in the former DDR.

746038 Battle-tank T-55 “Vietnamese Peoples Army”

One result of the arms agreement between the Soviet Union and the Peoples Republic of North Vietnam was the supply of Russian T-55 tanks for use fighting the American army.

74605 Battle tank T-34/76 with German commander dome

A number of captured T-34 tanks of the Soviet army were converted for use by the German Wehrmacht. Here the original was fitted with a German commander dome with cannon and correctly repainted in the blue-grey of the German Wehrmacht. At the end of the war each captured tank was used as it was as the German Army was so short of materials.

Visually the 4S cabriolet differs from the standard model. With four exhaust pipes rather than two. This is authentically replicated here.

093507 Porsche 911 Carrera “Austrian Police”

No chance for speeding motorists. From June 2017 the Austrian Federal Country of Kärnten operates this Porsche 911 for catching those breaking the speed limits on their motorways.

093385 Trabant 601 Universal “German Red Cross Löbau/Saxonia”

The German Red Cross in Löbau still operates a Trabant estate. The rear side windows are painted in body colour, this feature is replicated in the miniature.

307741 Volvo FH Gl. XL Artic. Curtain canvas truck “Schreglmann”

The haulier Schreglmann from Oberviechtach in Bavaria has a weakness for extraordinarily decorated vehicles. This truck is on tour with airbrushed adverts for the concrete block manufacturer Godelmann.